Fast bowling runs deep in Dominic Drakes’ veins, a legacy passed down from his father, former West Indies pacer Vasbert Drakes. However, despite this rich cricketing heritage, the 26-year-old left-arm quick experienced a day to forget on the field. Playing for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Drakes found himself on the wrong end of a record-breaking onslaught from the Trinbago Knight Riders batsmen, marking one of the worst spells in CPL history.
A Spell to Forget: 77 Runs Conceded in Four Overs
On that fateful day, Dominic Drakes delivered what is now the most expensive spell ever recorded in CPL history. Bowling four overs, Drakes was taken for an astonishing 77 runs without claiming a single wicket. The Trinbago Knight Riders’ batsmen ruthlessly punished him, smashing nine fours and five sixes off his bowling. Additionally, Drakes conceded five wides, further compounding his misery on the pitch. The relentless assault left Drakes with a dubious distinction—a record no bowler would want to own.
Among the Most Expensive Spells in T20 History
Drakes’ spell of 77 runs in four overs isn’t just the most expensive in CPL history; it also ranks as one of the costliest in the history of T20 cricket. The most expensive T20 spell remains the 82 runs conceded by Derbyshire’s Matty McKiernan in an English domestic match. Following him is Sialkot Stallions’ Sarmad Anwar, who leaked 81 runs in a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match. Drakes now joins the ranks of Ben Sanderson and Qais Ahmed, who also conceded 77 runs in four-over spells, placing them collectively at third on this unenviable list.
Trinbago Knight Riders Post Mammoth Total
The impact of Drakes’ expensive spell was immediate and devastating. The Trinbago Knight Riders capitalized on his poor form to post a massive total of 250/4 in their allotted 20 overs. This score became the third-highest team total in CPL history. Trinbago’s batsmen were relentless, sending the ball out of the park with ease, and out of the 17 sixes they hit, five were dispatched off Drakes’ bowling alone. The record-breaking innings left the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots with a daunting task ahead.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Fall Short
Chasing a monumental target of 251 runs, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots found themselves under immense pressure from the outset. Despite their best efforts, they could not recover from the hammering their bowlers received. The team eventually succumbed to a 44-run defeat, marking their first loss in the CPL 2024 season. The loss highlighted the critical role that bowling performances play in T20 cricket, where one bad spell can turn the tide of the match.
A Tough Day for Dominic Drakes
For Dominic Drakes, the match was a harsh reminder of the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. As a bowler, especially one with a legacy like Drakes’, such performances can be particularly challenging to bounce back from. However, cricket is as much about resilience as it is about skill. The young fast bowler will now need to regroup and focus on the upcoming games, using this experience as a learning opportunity to improve and move forward in his career.
Drakes’ record-breaking spell will undoubtedly be remembered in CPL history, not for the right reasons, but it also serves as a testament to the high-risk, high-reward nature of T20 cricket.
